Sunday, November 8, 2009

There have been lots of changes lately. We have changed the name of our business from Isandla Paper to Lucy & Isa. Isandla means "handmade" in Xhosa and the reason why we chose this name at the time of the creation of our business was that it best described our work. But it is a very common word often used in South-Africa and we were looking for a more distinguished and easy to remember name. Lucy and Isa are the names of two designers creating those beautiful cards ( me and my crazy ginger cat).

WANNA BE MY VALENTINE?

And we have a brand new website www.lucy&isa.com with the coolest new designs and an online shop that is linked to Paypal as well.

For our new range we fashion vintage montage cards of epherma that we hope will put a smile on your face. Our creations come from our vast and diversified archive that we have established over the years. With this new collection we have started realizing a project that has been in our minds since a long time.

The cards are perfect for any age and any occasion. Our designs make wonderful and personal gifts for your friends and loved ones and for yourself.

Everywhere around me in the objects of daily life I find inspiration. I find inspiration in things that have been designed by others before me. I admire the design of advertising in the 1950's. This is a box for miniature birthday cake candles produced in the 1950's in South Africa. I like the colour combination and the rather minimalist design.

AND this,..... well this is GI Joe. An action figure from 1964 produced in the USA, really collectable today.With completely moveable limbs. But his face of so real and naturalistic.

Colours, Colours.... Colours

A set of " Original " Tupperware Ice teas spoons, totally funky and cool design.Love them

Vintage buttons from 1940 with a metal shink in a really naughty pink.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Cards are the items I enjoy making the most. Each one is a small piece of art-work. The handcrafted recycled paper is always the basis. But I enjoy playing around with different types of materials - like this card.

For the circle plastic cottage-cheese lids of different colors are used. People have started collecting the plastic lids and I fetch from their house when there is a sufficient quantity.

There are four layers of circles.Making the handcrafted paper can sometimes be a little bit messy and labourious. But decorating the cards with the discarded items and the material that has been donated to us is the fun part of it.This card has been decorated with pipe-cleaners.Actually my father's pipe cleaners.

A very popular card is the Schweppes card making use of carefully removed plastic adverts of Schweppes soda water bottles decorated with glitter.The Schweppes card is a very popular one making use of carefully removed plastic adverts from Schweppes Soda water bottles.

A classical one on white paper with an elegant green handpainted leave and a green satin ribbon.

Rusty nail cards..................... have grown in popularity among the male population. Yes it can be used as a valentines card as well.

Never fails to make an impact.......or to transmit a message

The ice stick card..........................is a happy card as well

It takes a lot of work to make this card. A gold thread is sewn onto the card from the inside.

From the '' Happy Accountant " range. No explanation needed I think.

The shell range is one of my best-sellers.

All sorts of farbric off-cuts that I get from fabric factories or from fabric shops are used to decorate the cards.

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WELCOME TO LUCY & ISA

Lucy & Isa is a dynamic business that manufacturers exquisite hand made paper and paper products. The paper of our range is made out of 100% recycled old office paper mixed with the bark of alien invasive trees that are found in South- Africa.We are an eco-sustainable business and 90% of all material that we use for the finishing touches of our products consists of discarded and recycled items. In this blog I am sharing our new creations and the latest developments with you.

About Me

Hi my name is Isabella nick-named Chocolat. I live in a beautiful coastal town in South-Africa. I am a designer, street photographer, visual artist and writer. I write about what inspires me and the life around me. I like living in warm countries, drinking ice cold Chardonnay and eating seafood. It is useless and stupid to resist chocolate. If milky with almonds, if dark then with Chili or orange please. I like traveling, surfing, dancing, music, the sea, laughter and friendship. Intensity and passion is a must. The two people that I would like to meet if I could are Jesus and Ernest Hemingway.